Sowing the Seed on All Ireland Poetry Day

Seeing a window of opportunity in “All Ireland Poetry Day” on 6^th October, I made a leaflet entitled: “A Little Selection of Christian Verse from the Irish Countryside.” It was interesting to discover again the old villages of Garristown and the Naul in North County Dublin. Garristown has a small Carnegie Library and the Naul is known for ‘the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre’ which also accommodates a small coffee shop. I distributed my poetry leaflets to both locations and also to the village of Stamullen and to the library in the town of Balbriggan. Little seeds can sometimes blow much further than we think!

How good it is to use every opportunity we are presented with to reach others with the good news of salvation. Even when we find ourselves in situations that are far from pleasant, we can use these new developments in our lives to the glory of God and for the extension of His kingdom. During recent months I have been in hospital because of ill-health but I have made contacts in that situation and have had the joy of giving signed copies of my first book “A Biblical Journey through the Irish Year” to some patients who I instinctively know it will touch.

In recent times I have also been thinking about the little maid who was carried away by the Syrians in 2Kings Chapter 5. I am sure that this was the last thing that she would have wished for herself, but that little maid was able to put a man of influence in touch with the Lord’s servant Elisha – and ultimately God’s healing and saving power!

I also think of Joseph who was sold by his brothers into Egypt; yet the Lord not only protected Joseph, but He raised him up to use him to save a nation from famine!

Yes, life can lead us down some dark paths, for even as Christians we live in a polluted and dangerous world, where satanic opposition should not be underestimated; yet we have this reassurance that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8v28)

And so we walk on, by faith, even through the darkest of nights, trusting that the Lord will protect us and bring us Home to be with Him forever, when life’s short day is over. Meanwhile, we have so little time to serve Him here and the night is fast approaching when “no man can work” (John 9v4). Therefore, let us ask His guidance for every new and unique opportunity that comes our way to reach the souls!

Below is one of the verses from my little poetry leaflet, based on the verse… “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4v18)

The Path of the Just 

Softly glowing light

Throughout the darkest night,

Every cloud its silver lining,

Every sorrow, love entwining.

My path meanders on,

In faith towards the Dawn –

Oh breaking glory, eternal Day,

Forever with my Lord to stay! 

© Elizabeth Burke

“When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee…” (Isaiah 43v2)

I have experienced a few troubled waters in my lifetime – but none so deep as those which presently threaten to overwhelm me. In recent weeks one minor problem after another trickled in to irritate my normally very happy existence and then the ultimate tsunami came crashing in when a loved one became seriously ill and was taken to hospital. Sometimes the events in our lives are so painful that we have no desire to convey how we feel to others. We feel numb, sick at heart, filled with grief…

One bleak night I sat alone, praying and the Lord gave me these words… “When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43v2)

My faith is in the Holy One of Israel – and I rest in the knowledge that He will take care of it all. These days prayer is my constant companion. Under the present circumstances, when people say “Happy New Year” to me, I just nod uncomprehendingly.

What will this year hold for any of us? I only know that Jesus is my Saviour – and that He will take care of every concern and heavy burden that I lay at His feet. Is He your Saviour today? If not, please trust Him; life is difficult for me at present but I know that it would be twice as difficult if I had no access to the peace which passes all understanding. This is a simple little verse (written many years ago now) which sums up my attitude to every New Year…

I cannot know the future,

No more than change the past,

But on Jesus Christ my Saviour –

My every care I’ll cast.

Sometimes trauma and suffering in a Christian’s life can ultimately give birth to words which will touch the lives of others long after he has gone to be with the Saviour. I love the hymn “O Love that wilt not let me go” by George Matheson. The author was visually impaired but knew other suffering in his life. This hymn, the fruit of George Matheson’s suffering, lives on to inspire and comfort, for it expresses the Christian’s glorious hope in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and in His Victory on our behalf, over sin and death and hell. Praise God for His great love and compassion for all of us! If you still do not know Him as Friend, why not repent and take His hand today?  If you do, these final two verses of the hymn will have meaning in your life, when the waters deepen…

“O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to Thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from Thee,

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.”  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/oltwnlmg.htm

Links to this hymn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puWksKkI3Lc